Biomass PowerBiomass Power

By Zack Bekowies, Marion Berger, By Zack Bekowies, Marion Berger, and Tori Chrumkaand Tori Chrumka

Uses & FunctionsUses & Functions Most is used for heating, Most is used for heating,

cooking, and industrial cooking, and industrial processesprocesses

Used indirectly to drive Used indirectly to drive turbines and produce turbines and produce electricityelectricity

Can be used as fuel for Can be used as fuel for automobilesautomobiles

Supplies about 30% of the Supplies about 30% of the energy used in developing energy used in developing countriescountries

How it WorksHow it Works Harvesting of Harvesting of

fast-growing plantsfast-growing plants Collection of some crop residuesCollection of some crop residues THE PROCESSTHE PROCESS

Solid biomass fuels are collected and either burned Solid biomass fuels are collected and either burned or converted into gases or liquidsor converted into gases or liquids

Biogas, ethanol, methanol, and gasoholBiogas, ethanol, methanol, and gasohol These alternative fuels can be burned to serve as These alternative fuels can be burned to serve as

substitutes for gasoline and the like with less substitutes for gasoline and the like with less carbon dioxide emissioncarbon dioxide emission

AdvantagesAdvantages Large Potential SupplyLarge Potential Supply Moderately costlyModerately costly No net increase of carbon No net increase of carbon

dioxide if the biomass is harvested dioxide if the biomass is harvested sustainablysustainably

Plantation can be located on semiarid Plantation can be located on semiarid landland

Plantation can help restore degraded Plantation can help restore degraded landland

What current non-renewable energy What current non-renewable energy source would this replace?source would this replace?

Biofuel Biofuel fossil fuels, fossil fuels, -natural gas, etc.-natural gas, etc.

Biopower Biopower coal coal

BioproductsBioproducts fossil fuels fossil fuels

Case StudyCase Study Case study: BiomassCase study: Biomass biofuels (E-85) biofuels (E-85) 85% ethanol, 15% gas85% ethanol, 15% gas Flex-fuelFlex-fuel Pros: Cheaper Prices, Reduced taxes, government Pros: Cheaper Prices, Reduced taxes, government

incentives, reduces petroleum use by 70%, only incentives, reduces petroleum use by 70%, only renewable fuel energy source, biodegradablerenewable fuel energy source, biodegradable

Cons: lower temps Cons: lower temps add more gas, still emits add more gas, still emits regulated pollutants, lower mpg, 27% less regulated pollutants, lower mpg, 27% less energy/gallon, E-85 stations not widespread, “a energy/gallon, E-85 stations not widespread, “a leap sideways”, emit more greenhouse gasesleap sideways”, emit more greenhouse gases

Challenges in becoming Challenges in becoming MainstreamMainstream

agricultural increasesagricultural increases auto industry must re-auto industry must re-

vamp.vamp. the world population is the world population is

growing, so food growing, so food production would have production would have to increaseto increase Issue of whether biomass Issue of whether biomass

is worth it is worth it (www.wikipedia.org)

Will Biomass become Mainstream?Will Biomass become Mainstream? U.S. is currently one of the U.S. is currently one of the

leading users of biomassleading users of biomass Will not overtake fossil fuels Will not overtake fossil fuels

as our lead energy producer as our lead energy producer anytime soonanytime soon

But as fossil fuels run out, But as fossil fuels run out, biomass power could become biomass power could become a leading producer of a leading producer of electricity in the United Stateselectricity in the United States

Need more advanced Need more advanced technology in order to use the technology in order to use the biomass more efficientlybiomass more efficiently

Specific Infrastructure in Specific Infrastructure in MichiganMichigan

Need more bio-refineries in Need more bio-refineries in order to process enough order to process enough biomass biomass

Already have 5 ethanol Already have 5 ethanol processing plants in processing plants in MichiganMichigan

Electricity from biofuels can Electricity from biofuels can be hooked into already be hooked into already existing electrical systemsexisting electrical systems

BibliographyBibliography Websites used:Websites used: Miller, G. Tyler. Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the EnvironmentLiving in the Environment. 12th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson . 12th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson

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